Vibrating propeller for boats



(No Model.)

T. J. GOULTER. Vibrating Propeller for Boats.

Patented Oct. 12

*FEYERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D c.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. COULTEE, OF WILTON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND EDWARD A. HOUSMAN,OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

VIBRATING PROPELLER FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,209, dated October12, 1880.

Application filed June 30, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. COULTER, of Wilton, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Vibrating Propellers for Boats, of which thefollowing isa specification.

My invention relates to sculling attachments of that class in which aseries of paddles hinged or pivoted to an oscillating frame are vibratedby the resistance of the water on oscillating the said frame untilprevented by suitable stops from deflecting beyond a certain angle tothe frame, the propulsion being due to the reaction of the waterstriking against the paddles when the latter, held by the stops in thedeflected position, are forced laterally through the water with theoscillating motion of the frame. An invention of this class is shown inUnited States Patent N 0. 9,366, dated November 2, 1852.

The object of my present invention is to provide aconveniently-manipulated device for reversing the position of thepaddles and their stops from forward to back, in order that the boat maybe propelled straight rearward as well as forward by the oscillatorymovement of the paddle-frame and the use of oars thus be dispensed with.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved scullin g device attached at the stern of aboat. Fig. 2 is atop or plan view of the same detached from the boat. Fig. 3 is a detailplan view of a portion of the same, showinga paddle reversed or inposition for backing. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section, on the line as wof Fig. 2, of the reversing-rack and upper bar of the paddle-frame. Fig.5 is a detail side view, drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1 to bettershow the construction.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The paddle-frame is pivoted by its vertical vibrating shaft A in lugs orother suitable bearings, (1, attached to the stern of the boat, and isadjusted to any desired depth by a movable collar, a, which, whenfastened by its setscrew upon the shaft A, supports the latter byresting on the upper lug, a, as shown in Fig. 1. The oscillating motionis imparted to the frame by a simple hand-lever, B, or other suitabledevice connected to the upper end of shaft A.

The paddles C are provided at the upper and lower ends of their verticaledges with lugs c, by which they are pivot-ed between the two horizontalbars D and E of the paddleframe upon pins 01 6, formed on or attached tothe said bars. The outer ends of the bars D E are connected, at thedesired distance apart, by a wire rod, 0?, going through the hingepinsof the outer paddle. The inner end of the upper bar, E, is enlarged, andhas a square hole through it, by which it is made to fit, withoutturning, upon a square portion of the shaft A. The lower bar, D, is madein one piece, or continuous with the lower end of the shaft A, theirjunction at the inner end of the bar D being formed simply by a bend orcurve, 61 which is thus made with the object of preventing damage fromconcussion by gliding over obstructions and simply raising the frame alittle-while passing over them.

The stops f, regulating the throw or lateral deflection of the paddle,relative to the bar E, are formed on or attached to a pinion, F, whichlatter is fitted to turn upon the hingepin 0 between the under side ofthe bar E and the upper surface of the upper lug, c, of the paddle C, sothat when the pinion is turned one-half of one revolution, or from theposition in Fig. 2 to that in Fig. 3, the paddle will be reversed andthe oscillation of the handlever B will cause the boat to move backwardinstead of forward. The turning of all the pinions F simultaneously forthis purpose is effected by means of a toothed rack, Gr, gearing withthe teeth of the pinions, and which rack is slid along in and betweensuitable guideprojections g 9, formed at intervals alternately upon theupper and under side of the bar E by a ha11d-lever, H, convenientlyaccessible from the boat. This lever H is fulcrumed to the shaft A aboveor below the upper bar, E

and is connected by a pin, through a slot, to a lug, h, upon the rackGr, so that by moving the upper end of the lever H from one to the otherof two fastening spring stops or pins z the paddles may be reversed atwill and retained in position of back or forward, as the case may be.The angle of deflection of the 5 paddles relative to the bar B should beabout fort y-five or fifty degreesnot exceeding sixty degrees.

I am aware that arrangements have hereto fore been made for reversing:the position of 10 vibratingpaddles for propelling either forward orbackward, such having, been shown, for instance, in Patents No. 135,994,No. 174,419, and No. 122,823, and I disclaim, also, the construction andarrangement of the operating 15 parts as shown and claimed in suchpatents.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In combination withthe frame E D, sliding rack G, operating hand-lever H, and vibrat- 2oing vertical paddles 0, the pinions F, carrying rigid projecting arms,provided with stops f on their ends to engage with the opposite sides ofthe paddles, the said paddles being pivoted one to each pinion Fin theaxis of the said 25 pinion, and the whole being constructed and arrangedto operate as shown and described.

THOMAS J. COULTER.

Witnesses:

A. \V. ALM vIs'r, G. SEDGWICK.

